The theater major at Chung-Ang University, which is the birthplace of stars such as Ha Jung-woo, Hyun Bin, and Byun Yo-han, and led by full-time theater professor Baek Nam-young, has proven to be a leading player in the K-culture craze by being recognized for its skills on the international stage.
The play 'Once upon a time, a long time ago' produced by the theater major in the Department of Performance and Video Creation at Chung-Ang University recently won the Best Stage Performance award at the '2023 WTEA International Theater Festival'. This work was directed by Professor Baek Nam-young, a theater master known for his diverse use of the body and mask plays. This work also leads the play with the actors' movements and various sounds.
The international theater festival, hosted by WTEA (World Theater Education Alliance), an international theater education consultative body under the UNESCO Chair on Theater Education, is held by theater majors at Chung-Ang University and around the world, including Germany, the United States, Spain, and China. It is an international competition in which eight major theater departments participate. WTEA, a collection of the world's leading theater schools, holds various events such as seminars, workshops, and performances every two years to provide young performing artists with international stage experience.
Chung-Ang University won the best work award at this competition together with the China Central Academy of Drama for 'Once upon a time, a long time ago'. Chung-Ang University students who appeared in the play also received individual awards. Janggun Kang, a 4th year student majoring in theater, won the Best Actor Award, and Youngbin Ahn, a 3rd year student, received the Best Actor Award.
Chung-Ang University's theater major, which won several awards at the WTEA International Theater Festival, has played a major role in the development of K-culture and the K-content industry, which are the foundation of the Korean Wave. Since its launch as Korea's first theater education department in 1959, it has created countless star actors, including Ha Jung-woo, Hyun Bin, Byun Yo-han, Kang Han-na, Jeon Yeo-bin, Joo Hyun-young, Seo Kang-jun, and Ong Seong-wu, too many to list.
Ryu Ye-ji, Ten Asia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr